Take 5: Outdoor recreation sector, fuel prices and remote workers
NH Business Review's biweekly snapshot of business and industry statistics
Take 5: Outdoor recreation sector, fuel prices and remote workers
NH Business Review's biweekly snapshot of business and industry statistics
THE U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released data that shows how, in New Hampshire, the outdoor recreation sector supports more than 33,000 jobs, generates approximately $1.8 billion in wages and compensation, and contributed $4.2 billion in value added in 2024, representing 3.5% of the state’s GDP. Leading sectors include snow recreation ($257 million), RVing ($253 million), hunting and shooting sports ($245 million), boating and fishing ($188 million), and hiking and camping ($83 million).
MORE than 1,500 new data centers are in various stages of development nationwide, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Sixty-seven percent of planned data centers will pop up in rural areas, while 87% of existing data centers are slated for urban ones.
ABOUT 7 in 10 Americans (69%) are mostly concerned about higher gas and fuel prices as a result of the U.S. military action against Iran, based on a March survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. The majority of respondents are also concerned about the U.S. sending ground troops into Iran (61%), large numbers of military casualties (59%), terrorist attacks in the U.S. (56%), and expansion of the war into countries outside the Middle East (53%).
SMALL business owners in the Northeast are more optimistic about revenue growth than those in any other region heading into Q2, according to data from Citizens. Findings showed that 57.2% expect revenue to grow this quarter, nearly 10 points above the national average of 47.8%. Respondents also shared that they plan to use AI tools to improve employee productivity (57.7%) this quarter, the highest among other U.S. regions.
A recent FlexJobs’ 2026 Remote Work Report found that nearly one-third of remote workers (30%) say nothing would convince them to return to the office full time. In addition, 58% of respondents said a fully remote job represents their “ideal” work style, and just 4% of respondents said they want to be in the office full time.
